Improvement in earth-augers



.T. CAMPBELL.

EARTH-AUGER.

No.174,945. Patented March 21,1876. I

N-FETERS. PHOTDJJTHQQRAPHER. WASHINGTON- D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY CAMPBELL, OF DOOR GREEK, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-AUGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,945, dated March21, 1876; application filed February 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAY CAMPBELL, of DoorCreek, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Earth Augers or Borers; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention is primarily to construct an earth anger orborer, used for the purpose of boring holes for posts, of great strengthand power, and at the same time of easy operation; and consists of ametallic cylinder of the size most usually required. Openings areformed, of uniform size, on opposite sides of such cylinder, the upperportion of which is arched, and entirely open at the bottom. Secured tothe lower portion of such cylinder are two strong metallic plates, of asomewhat conical shape, and secured to wider and downward-projectingsides thereof are the cutting-edges, that deflect at an angle of aboutforty-five degrees, forming the points that enter the ground, and uponwhich the weight of the whole anger or borer rests. To the opposite endsof these plates are secured two hinged valves, that yield to thepressure of the earth upon them when the borer or anger is in operation,and when the same is withdrawn partially or wholly drop down, and retainthe earth within the anger or borer. An arched brace connects the twometallic plates, and limits the upward movement of the hinged valves,above referred to. An inner shield of metal, conforming in shapesubstantially to the openings in the cylinder, is composed of two parts,connected together by means of an arched brace at the top, and theresecured to the handle of the anger or borer, and is operated by suchhandle being turned in one or the opposite direction. Thus air can beadmitted through such openings while the process of boring is going on,

and when the same are closed the shields filling the space thus open inthe cylinder retain the earth within it when the borer is withdrawn. Thecylinder at its upper end is also secured to the handle of the anger orborer by an arched brace. The handle passes through a metallic socket,in which a slot is cut, and a lug formed upon such handle fitting suchsocket limits the movement of the inner shield to the right or left.

As it frequently happens that a post-hole requires to be enlarged, Ihave made provision for the attachment of adjustable cutters, secured tothe cylinder above, and resting upon, the flange of the metallic plates,forming the bottom of the cylinder, by means of screws or other suitabledevices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a topcross-section -in line a: m, Fig. 1.

A is the outer metallic cylinder, containing the arched openings, asseen in Fig. 1. B are inner shields of metal, similar in character tothat of the cylinder, and conforming in shape to such openings. Suchshields are connected together at their tops by means of the arched ironbrace G, which is secured to the handle I, as seen in Fig. 1. O O arestrong metallic plates, secured to the bottom part of the cylinder A,that are supplied with cutting-edges, the prolongated points of whichcross each other, as shown. D are the hinged valves, moved upward by thepressure of the earth when the auger or borer is operated, their upwardmovement being limited by the arched brace F. E are cutters, secured tothe outer side of the cylinder A, to enlarge the area of the whole, whenrequired. H is an arched iron brace, secured to the upper end of thecylinder A, and also to the handle I. K is a socket, within which thehandle I revolves, containing the slot L, and into which a lug, t, isadjusted, to limit the movement of the shields B, secured to the handleI.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the cylinder A, plates 0 G, shields B B, andhandle I. constructed In testimony that I claim the foregoing as :mdarranged in the manner and for the purmy own I aflix my signature inpresence of pose herein described. two Witnesses.

2. The adjustable cutters E E, in combination with the cylinder A, inthe manner and JAY CAMPBELL. for the purpose herein described.

3. The socket K, in combination with the -Witnesses: brace H, handle 1,slot L, and lug i, in the S. RASMUSSON, manner and for the purposeherein described. W. T. POTTER, Jr.

